What do you do if innovative solutions in healthcare aren't meeting the needs of patients and providers?

Engage with patients and providers to understand their specific needs and challenges, gather feedback on the current solutions, and collaborate with key stakeholders to co-create new, more effective solutions that truly address their needs. Prioritize user-centered design and continuous feedback loops to ensure that solutions are relevant and impactful.

Ask if anyone is already meeting patients/providers needs? If so, find out what they're doing that's different, and see if those practices are adoptable by those experiencing the problem (i.e., patients/providers). If so, this may be an opportunity for #PositiveDeviance- the solution may be hiding in plain sight!

I would say that is the nature of innovation. You try, you fail, you try again. The important thing is to keep measuring your results, Make an honest assessment of what went wrong and then make changes necessary until you can get it right.

When assessing an initiative, the first step is to survey patients and providers to determine optimal outcomes, since sometimes leaders make well meaning but erroneous assumptions about their desires. Secondly, it is important to involve key stakeholders in process design to ensure that a plan is capable of being deployed in a real world setting. If a provider or patient has a poor first experience, they are unlikely to buy into a concept. Therefore, iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles should be conducted to perfect workflows before they are implemented across an entire organization. Core standards are crucial, but processes must have enough flexibility to allow for utilization by a wide range of individuals across a variety of settings.

Detailed feedback from patients and providers should be gathered to identify specific pain points and areas for improvement. By understanding the precise challenges faced by those on the front lines of care delivery, you can focus on targeted, effective solutions that truly meet the needs of the healthcare community.

The involvement of end-users in the initial phase of the innovation development process is pivotal. It fundamentally shapes the potential success of the project. Innovators must integrate end-users, including patients and healthcare providers, early on to gain invaluable insights into real-world needs, preferences, and challenges. This will ensure that the solution is not only technically feasible but also highly relevant, user-friendly, and practical. Failure to engage end-users from the outset significantly increases the risk of costly revisions or project failure upon deployment. Therefore, involving end-users from the start is critical for driving innovation that improves outcomes and efficiency in healthcare settings.

Engagement of stakeholders at every level is imperative, drawing on diverse insights and perspectives. Front-line providers and administrative staff possess valuable, firsthand experience that can guide and inform necessary changes to our approach. By involving a broad spectrum of voices, you can ensure that our efforts are balanced and aligned with the realities faced by those within the healthcare system.

When iterating and innovating on solutions, a multidisciplinary team approach is essential. Drawing on a diverse range of expertise allows for a more comprehensive and effective assessment of potential improvements. By embracing collaborative approaches, you can ensure that the solutions you develop are nuanced and effective, addressing the full scope of issues faced within the healthcare environment.

Consistent training and support are essential to equip all key players with the essential knowledge and tools for success in implementing new solutions. By providing thorough and ongoing support, you can empower individuals throughout the healthcare system to navigate and make the most of new innovations, fostering a culture of competence and adaptability.

When healthcare innovations don't meet patient and provider needs, be ready to stop using them. Start by clearly defining what success looks like and measure results against these benchmarks. Let the data drive the decisions about whether to continue the innovation. Embrace failures as learning opportunities rather than just setbacks. Ask the question what can I learn? instead of how can I make it successful? Such a mindset helps in recognising when an idea should be discontinued, saving resources and potentially leading to better solutions.

Monitoring progress at regular intervals is crucial. This allows you to gauge the effectiveness of new strategies and make necessary adjustments in a timely manner. By employing a vigilant and proactive approach to monitoring, you ensure that you remain on track to meet your goals and address any challenges that arise along the way.

How can something be a solution if it’s not working for the solution seekers? A solution is only a solution if it creates satisfaction for the solution seekers. Reflect what happened in the process of arriving at the solution. Were there any assumptions? Ask solution seekers why is this solution not working for them. Try to iterate fast and follow the same cycle again. Some things to remember- 1. Don’t copy anyone’s solution. It will fail - 100% 2. Innovation must be done by the solution seekers. Innovated at the top and pushed down the chain of command will not work 3. If you are not taking into account satisfaction of the internal customer, external customer and satisfaction of the system (business) it most definitely fails.

Reflection and learning from the outcomes is a cornerstone of ongoing improvement. This process involves a thorough analysis of results, allowing for timely adjustments and the fostering of a culture of continuous improvement. By reflecting on outcomes and adapting strategies, you create an environment of resilient and lasting success.

Innovations should only and only be implemented for alleviating pain points of internal customer (providers) or external customers (patients & payers). Any other innovation can be recorded and published for utilising them in case they form a solution to future pain points. Unnecessary automation and usage of AI in healthcare is to be avoided.